Redistricting could bring big legislative fight in 2011

Besides filling the budget gap, one of the biggest issues Nebraska lawmakers will face next year is redistricting. New census numbers will be available which will force the redrawing of most legislative and Congressional boundaries. Senator-elect Tyson Larson, of O’Neill, says he will have to work to maintain rural districts.

“Our district is continuing to lose population and Omaha is continuing to grow,” Larson says. “There’s going to be a big fight in the legislature this year to make sure that rural Nebraska gets the representation that it needs and that the district lines are drawn fairly.”

Larson says even though he will be a freshman, he believes the 40th district will not be wiped out. “Constitutionally, I’m guaranteed four years,” Larson says, “so they’re going to come and they’re going to have to change my district a little bit, I understand that.”

Larson says there will be a lot of give and take between the legislature and the panel that redraws the lines. “I’m hoping they do it fair and they do it the way it should be done and not let seniority or party politics get involved,” Larson says.

The redistricting committee will be made up of nine people, three from each congressional district. The legislature convenes on January 5th.